tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33907893875228381902017-11-01T04:24:39.495-07:00My Little ADPiMarynoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-14332228205817366422013-03-08T13:57:00.001-08:002013-03-08T13:57:57.618-08:00International Women's Day: Our Global Community and Founding Purpose<div style="text-align: center;">Happy International Women's Day!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik--kpQU3H8/UTpeXfv9ibI/AAAAAAAAAsI/UDGpKfdvHXM/s1600/119203342_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik--kpQU3H8/UTpeXfv9ibI/AAAAAAAAAsI/UDGpKfdvHXM/s400/119203342_orig.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />How fitting that International Women's Day, fall in the midsts of National Ritual Celebration Week! While we are celebrating the meaning of our individual chapter's Ritual, and the values our affiliation holds us to - it is also so important that we remember the purpose for our association and the power that such association can bring.<br /><br />Association is a powerful tool that women have used throughout history to make positive change - from the role women played in the emancipation movement to women's suffrage, association and a common purpose have driven women forward to the positions of power and community we are able to pursue today.<br /><br />Excuse me while I flex my academic muscles... the parallel of the American Feminist Movement and the Fraternal Movement is one that fascinates me:<br /><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>961</o:Words> <o:Characters>5478</o:Characters> <o:Company>Simmons College</o:Company> <o:Lines>45</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>12</o:Paragraphs> 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mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Cambria;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">While fraternal organizations have been an active source of association in the United States since 1778, many still do not understand their purpose or their role on college campuses across the country. Contemporary depictions of sorority life are centralized around images straight from television; blonde upper- class women wearing Greek letters, drinking alcohol, and looking for the most handsome and eligible fraternity brother. Not only are these images grossly misguided, but the collegiate acceptance or imitation of such are far from the goals and developments of today’s sorority women as well as those of the earliest Greek women, who’s origins date back as early as 1851 (cough cough, that's us). The grounds for development of these original associations directly sought the academic, social, and political advancement of women. Women in the mid-19<sup>th</sup>and early 20<sup>th</sup> centuries found themselves in the midst of a society that was extreme in gender polarization and allowed for little advancement for women in society. Women used the secret society and later the sorority as a tool to overcome the vindictive acceptance of these women as students by their male counterparts, both students and teachers. The earliest of these organizations and those that would follow under their model were formed to support female students at various colleges and universities across the United States. The founders of each of these groups developed a baseline of fundamental behaviors that would be incorporated to their academic, social and extracurricular undertakings. The primitive use for these associations acted greatly in opposition to those of men’s organizations, many of which acted with great animosity towards the few female students on their campuses. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">In exploration of these organizations, the history and initial development is two-pronged. The first secret society for women began in 1851, then resurfaced with the first Greek letter organization for women in 1870 (shout out to our Panhellenic sisters!). Wesleyan Female College, the first degree-granting institute in the world for women, was home of the two first secret societies for women. In May of 1851 the Adelphean Society was founded by a young Eugenia Tucker and five of her classmates; at first this society was bound together by nothing more than a large ribbon adorning each of their dresses inscribed with their endeavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Unknowingly to their first members, this institution would come to touch the lives of millions of women throughout history. Their initial purpose, as regarded by founder Octavia Andrew Rush, was to “[found] the society for mutual improvement." The vocation for this “mutual improvement” was centralized on academic advancement and improvement.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Eugenia Tucker found that many of the women attending Wesleyan were not as focused on academics as she felt they should have been. Their discourse was that of academic, religious, and political debate, committing themselves to a rigorous course of study. In the following year, 1852, the Philomathean Society, now known at Phi Mu Women’s Fraternity, would join the Adelphean Society at Wesleyan Female College, similar in their purpose and practice. While these two societies pre-dated the term “sorority,” their ritual traditions and academic ambitions would standardize the practices of such women’s organizations in the future (those Macon Magnolias will get you every time!).&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>While the foundations were being laid for collegiate associations, women had already begun to organize in similar means in the fight for women’s advancement and the advocating of gender equality. Three years prior to the founding of the Adelphean Society, nearly three hundred women gathered in Seneca Falls, New York for the Seneca Falls Convention. This two-day convention led to the drafting of the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, a controversial drafting written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This document set forth, as former slave, statesman, and abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass the <span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">"grand basis for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Shortly after these Sentiments were signed, the first Women’s Rights Convention would take place in Worcester, Massachusetts. The first of many conventions, and a distinctive and momentous event in the history of women’s liberation, called to order the demands and details for a standardized plan of action to address the grievances against the legal and social limitations placed on females. Speakers at the convention addressed and spoke in defense of the legal limitations of women set forth by the Bible. Others spoke of the limited access of women to areas of higher education. Argued for sociopolitical changes in regard to the women’s movement, Lucy Stone argued for sociopolitical changes in regard to the women’s movement, and that women as persons had the right to vote and to own property, Abby Price spoke on the necessity to grant more open and equal access of women to employment and trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In addition to the recognition of the social distortion of gender roles, Sojourner Truth spoke at the convention regarding the need to recognize the disconnect of race in society and called for the equality distribution of rights for women of color that other members of the convention were working to obtain. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">[Passage from "Women's Development in Organizational Leadership: A Study of Women's Fraternities and their Role in the American Feminist Movement" Mary Simeoli, 2011, all rights reserved] &nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The issues faced by the early members of the Women's Convention body and by our founders are still very present and still very relevant in our lives today. While we must always strive to fulfill our Ritual promise and organizational obligations - we can also never forget the strife and oppression our founders faced as young women with a common purpose.&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">Today, let us not only remember our Ritual and it's meaning, but also the importance of using our association to fulfill common goals, making this world better for generations of women to come!&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">Love and Loyally</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Marynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-24436323435325836192013-03-05T12:22:00.002-08:002013-03-05T13:51:33.372-08:00The Secret I Can Not Tell You, But....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPYAuKI6S5s/UTZTEeikx2I/AAAAAAAAAqU/reh3RIKWTco/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPYAuKI6S5s/UTZTEeikx2I/AAAAAAAAAqU/reh3RIKWTco/s1600/photo.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">This is my very own Ritual Book, for those that know me, you know this is my favorite thing.</span></div><br />I am a member of a secret society. From our founding as the Adelphean Society to our current status as Alpha Delta Pi, the practices and ceremonies I share with sisters are secret, and remain guarded by her members.<br /><br />I love that I get to carry a secret... Maybe someday I will be able to pass it along to my own daughter, or niece, or even my own mom - but until then, the key is thrown away.<br /><br />I can not tell you our secrets. I can not tell you our Ritual. The habitual ceremonies that take place every week, every semester, or every year. The knowledge passed from one generation to the next, the sacred seen and heard.... my lips are sealed.<br /><br />Now, I have not told you our secrets, but maybe you know them? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(No, I don't mean you've googled our way through Panhellenic secrets, or attempted to find out our grip or symbols)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>In Alpha Delta Pi Rituals, sisters are given standards and guidelines, we make a promise of excellence like all of our fraternal brothers and sisters do in their respective ceremonies.<br /><br />Each initiation ceremony may be different - while I can't tell you for sure - I'd guess they are more similar than they are different. The changes or differences between them rooted in our culture or history, our founding purpose and the development of our organizations. Our values, while we share many of our ideologies and have common community values, vary slightly from organization to organization.<br /><br /><b>Ritual is a secret I can not tell you</b>, but it is one that I can&nbsp;<i>show</i>&nbsp;you.<br /><br />Ritual is something I know, it is a secret I carry with me all the time. It is a promise that I made, and one that I asked my sisters to hold me accountable for.<br /><br />So... am I keeping my promise? Am I living my life the way that I promised to do so? Am I valuing the relationships and cultivating the skills I said that I would?<br /><br />Ritual is a secret I can not tell you, but if I am living my life<i> the way I said I would</i>, if I am treating others<i> the way I said I would</i>, if I am acting in a way that reflects the values that were shared with me... then you should be able to guess.<br /><br />You should be able to guess what I was told. You should be able to guess what my promise was. You should be able to guess the meaning of the secrets I carry.<br /><br />If as sorority women and fraternity men, we are truly&nbsp;<i>showing </i>others what our Ritual is, then when our new members arrive at our initiation ceremonies they should be able to say - "Oh, I should have known" or "Oh, I could have guessed."<br /><br />Each and everyday we have the opportunity to show those around us our Ritual. No, you will not see inside our Ritual Book, or listen to the traditions shared only through word of mouth, but <b>you should see it everyday. You should see it in me.</b> Here's to trying.<br /><br /><br />Happy National Ritual Celebration Week<br />&lt;3 Love and Loyally<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Marynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-41087826581535590042013-03-05T11:26:00.000-08:002013-03-05T11:28:58.651-08:00I Love the Pin You Let Me Wear: Happy International Badge Day 2013<h2></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FelmwrzQ2Ds/UTUZsaEoKOI/AAAAAAAAAp0/r8vRLSz1pII/s1600/31438_10152607000340720_124693558_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FelmwrzQ2Ds/UTUZsaEoKOI/AAAAAAAAAp0/r8vRLSz1pII/s320/31438_10152607000340720_124693558_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Having not written here since August, my poor blog is probably feeling neglected, and I find myself disappointed for not have better recorded this amazing experience. In thinking again and again about my experience (and lack of blog entries), I made a connection on this very special day.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Yesterday, Panhellenic women around the world celebrated International Badge Day 2013. This celebration is a part of National Ritual Celebration Week, a program sponsored by our Panhellenic sisters of Phi Mu Fraternity.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Yesterday, collegiate and alumnae sisters of all Panhellenic groups were asked to wear their sorority pins - to school, to work, to the bank, and the grocery store. We were asked to literally wear our hearts on our sleeves or as this year's theme asks "Wear your Letters on Your Heart."&nbsp;Established in 1997 by the National Panhellenic Conference, International Badge Day's purpose is to celebrate the Panhellenic sisterhood we share, and to show pride in our affiliation.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Alpha Delta Pi sisters across the country sing "I Love the Pin," with great regularity, a song that our sisterhood cherish, and uses to celebrate the literal and physical symbol of our purpose and organization. And I have to say... I do love the pin. My Alpha Delta Pi badge has changed almost as much as I have during my ADPi membership experience, and tells the story of the places I have gone and the sisters I have met and shared experiences with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">"What are all those things on your pin?" I am oh, so often asked. "They are dangles," I reply with great enthusiasm. A "dangle" is a charm, and each one has a different meaning. For me, they show my involvement, my trips, my lessons learned. At first what was just a black diamond has since become my &nbsp;timeline:&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>October 31, 2009</b> - I am pinned for the first time with the black diamond badge of Alpha Delta Pi during my initiation ceremony. As a founding member of my chapter, I was pinned with a "generic" badge, simple and plain, but special none-the-less. That night at our Installation Ceremony I receive my charter member dangle, and my first officer dangle for Formal Recruitment Chair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WcV3gMV-4kE/UTUerXq5Q2I/AAAAAAAAAqA/zxhgRrTszPs/s1600/62181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WcV3gMV-4kE/UTUerXq5Q2I/AAAAAAAAAqA/zxhgRrTszPs/s200/62181.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>March 20, 2010 </b>- I pin my Diamond Sister during her initiation ceremony using my very own Alpha Delta Pi badge. My sweet sister would give me a Diamond Sister dangle later for my birthday.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>April 25, 2010 </b>- I was elected Chapter President, and again my badge would change... (elections happened in April since our Founding President was a senior <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">&gt;&gt; Shout out to you, Kelly!!&lt;&lt;</span>)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b>June 24, 2010 </b>- My first international meeting, I was able to attend Leadership Seminar in Atlanta, GA with Sister Hannah. It was the first time our chapter would participate in a summer meeting. A dangle would come with too!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Now, dangles are all good and fun, but I will save you the recollection of my additions. This timeline would continue, and so too would the changes to my pin. As these additions came along so did my understanding and appreciation for the membership experience the black diamond represented. Each experience, each new interaction brought new friends, and ideas.&nbsp;My pin had been present at job interviews, at Panhellenic events, and even at my college graduation. Now my pin serves as a piece and symbol of my job. Working as a Leadership Consultant for Alpha Delta Pi I have the honor of a second guard on my badge; a symbol that for the rest of my life, will remind me of my membership in the sisterhood of the suitcase, and the culmination of everything I had worked for while in school.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Our pin is a symbol - a beautiful piece of jewelry, but a symbol of so much more. Our pin symbolizes the promise we made to one another during our initiation and the secrets we value as sisters of this organization. It symbolizes the challenges our membership presents - and how everyday we must strive to do and be our best. Our pin as a part of our brand - a physical reminder of the way we have chosen to live our lives and the affiliation we share with women across time and space.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Far too often, because of media, or the poor decisions of others, Greek affiliation can be something we hide. We don't want people around us to know we're Greek - it's easier than trying to explain the reality of our experience. What International Badge Day is all about is bringing us together, to those we had no idea we shared a common bond with, to express pride, and to dismantle the preconceived notions of others. So in celebration of National Ritual Celebration Week, "wear your letters on your heart" and show the world what membership in a Panhellenic organization means.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When I wear my pin, I feel connected to those women around me, and to the women back home. When I wear my pin, I feel proud and accomplished - I know that the skills and confidence I have gained while in college and beyond and deeply rooted in what that piece of jewelry represents. When I wear my pin, I am reminded of the eight wonderful women who have been brought into my life, the International Officers, Executive Staff members, and chapter members who have blessed me far greater than I can express.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What does your badge mean to you?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cheers to the pin we all know and love, and to the sisters we have and those yet to come!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">&lt;3 Love and Loyally&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Marynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-80111754908715435752012-08-03T08:06:00.002-07:002012-08-03T17:59:30.891-07:00Don't Miss Your Miracle...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"></span><br /><div class="blogsyText" style="background-size: 10px 25px; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9HvGryq60U/UBvnwNuogOI/AAAAAAAAAno/49s7mm8x34U/s1600/Miracles-Happen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t9HvGryq60U/UBvnwNuogOI/AAAAAAAAAno/49s7mm8x34U/s320/Miracles-Happen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">I have officially been an Alpha Delta Pi employee for almost a month now. Training has begun, and has flown by. I have gone to Atlanta for Leadership Seminar, home, and back again.&nbsp;I have met amazing leaders; women of gifts and talents.&nbsp;</span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">While I still cannot believe I am here - and have so much to share concerning this amazing opportunity, a post about LS or my time spent at Memorial Headquarters just doesn't seem quite right as the official "kick off" to this journey.&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">Instead, I'd like to share a story that means a lot to me.&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">In<i> 2 Kings 5</i>, we learn the story of Naaman. Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. He was rich and well respected and all those around him knew who he was - he has been successful in battle many times. While very successful, Naaman was a man like any other - not immune to the discomforts or sickness of the earth. Naaman suffered from leprosy.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">Now, what does this have to do with being a sorority woman, you might ask. <b>Just stay with me.&nbsp;</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">Naaman has exhausted his resources and there was no hope in sight. Just then, a slave - a young Israelite who had been captured in battle - told her mistress that Naaman should go to Samaria to visit a prophet who would surly be able to cure him.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">Desperate, Naaman and his men set off.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">Naaman went to the prophet, Elisha. Elisha, too, was a well-known and important man. But Naaman arrived, Elisha did not answer the door, but instead sent a servant. The servant told Naaman to go to the Jordan River and wash himself seven times, and that upon the seventh wash, his skin would be healed.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">In a rage, Naaman shouts to the Lord. Angry that he was greeted by a servant instead of the important man he had traveled to see. While in fits of shouting, one of his own servants who accompanied him from Damascus, came to him and said - "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something <i>difficult</i>, you would have done it. Now why can't you just wash yourself, as he said and be cured?"&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2 Kings 13</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">Naaman went down to the Jordan river, and did as his servant suggested, and washed his body. Sure enough, upon the seventh time washing his body, his skin became anew - his leprosy washed away and new clean skin exposed. Naaman was healed.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">Now, if you're still with me, I share this story for a few reasons.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">In some of the most difficult times in my life - this story has served to remind me: <b>don't miss your miracle</b>.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">Naaman was strong and proud - as we can all be, far too often. Yet, with all his wealth and all his fame, his saving grace came from those most unlike him: the three servants. It was the poor, and the captured, and the tired, together that gave way to his miracle.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">And this is related to sorority how?!&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">In our organization, and in our life, we will meet many people. We will share each path of our life with others. &nbsp;When we are closed off, or judgmental, when we exclude others. We just might be missing our miracle.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">People come into our lives for a reason. Everyone of us is brought together for a purpose. When we disallow relationships to cultivate - personal, friendships, professional - we might be missing our miracle. We might be closing ourselves off to the person who was meant to give us something, to teach us something, to tell us something, to guide us to our miracle.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">When we only look to interact with those who look like us, and act like us, and dress like us, we may be closing ourselves to the chance of a lifetime.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">To the sisters with whom I have already shared this with, I hope you always remember what a blessing and miracle you all have been to me. And as this year begins, I hope that I too can continue to learn what it means to open myself up to others and to allow those I meet to teach me, just as I hope to teach them.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;">&lt;3 Love &amp; Loyally&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></div>Marynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-45648543476204555412012-03-05T11:19:00.000-08:002012-03-05T23:26:54.350-08:00A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKBdAJiQsPg/T0-_2f3SM3I/AAAAAAAAAfY/7KZEGEIoGDY/s1600/AAAAAiZlcE8AAAAAAPXQEg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 268px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKBdAJiQsPg/T0-_2f3SM3I/AAAAAAAAAfY/7KZEGEIoGDY/s400/AAAAAiZlcE8AAAAAAPXQEg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714997395143668594" /></a><br /><br />I feel so absolutely honored and blessed to announce that I have been hired for the 2012 - 2013 academic year for my dream job! <span style="font-weight:bold;">I will be serving Alpha Delta Pi as a Leadership Consultant</span> and I could <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> feel more <span style="font-style:italic;">blessed</span>!<br /><br />Alpha Delta Pi has already given me so much and now I have the opportunity to serve others, sharing the sisterhood that I love so much, and pay forward the many gifts that have been given to me! These past four years have certainly been quite the ride - and now I've officially signed on for the opportunity of a lifetime! <br /><br />My my my little ADPi..... <br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-28078756487730876232012-02-29T19:46:00.007-08:002012-03-04T11:17:30.627-08:00National Ritual Celebration Week 2012: All Day Everyday, Let Ritual Be There<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Lmlin9FTlc/T073YdeXjkI/AAAAAAAAAfM/qTCi1fjb6jw/s1600/RitualWeek_logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 204px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Lmlin9FTlc/T073YdeXjkI/AAAAAAAAAfM/qTCi1fjb6jw/s400/RitualWeek_logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714776976780660290" /></a><br /><br /> Happy National Ritual Celebration Week! <br /><br />Ritual is a part of every fraternity man or sorority woman's experience. While this may be true, the extent to which it is differs greatly. Some collegiate members see their Ritual on a regular basis, some talk about it, some learn it, some lead their chapter in Ritual study or practice. To others, Ritual happens once a semester or once a year - it's a book, or a phrase. It may have been edited down to be a short as possible, or pages and dialog have been lost or forgotten. <br /><br />While Ritual should be a part of our lives daily, this week is a time to draw special attention to it. What does Ritual mean to you? How is it a part of your life? <br /><br />I think one of the biggest problems we have as collegians is really understanding what it means to "live your Ritual." "Live your Ritual" is a phrase that's becoming more and more popular - I use it all the time... #LTR for short - but can we really live the promise and practice of our Rituals if we do not understand what they mean? <br /><br />As members of our organizations we make many promises - we promise to go to meetings, be on committees, go to events, raise money.... the list goes on and on. But, the most important promise we make is that of our Ritual. No matter our organization, when we go through our initiation rite we are given an expectation - one set forth by our founders - and challenged to live our lives in the path they've laid out. <br /><br />No. Living our Rituals is not always easy, and no, it is not always simple. But, YES it can be done. It can be done today, and tomorrow, it can be done at chapter meetings and philanthropy events, it can be done in our classes and yes, we can even live our Ritual when we're out at a bar or surrounded by friends. <br /><br />When we take the time to learn about our Ritual we learn the lessons of excellence - brotherhood and sisterhood, academic achievement, the pursuit of a higher purpose.... those things don't have to live within the confines of Sunday chapter meetings - they can be there all the time....Saturday nights included! <br /><br />Take the challenge with me this week to carry your Ritual with you everywhere you go. Live your Ritual by learning a little more about it. Live your Ritual by showing compassion and sincerity. Live your Ritual by reaching out to others and sharing your experiences. Live your Ritual by going the extra mile, or showing the extra effort. <br /><br />While this week might be National Ritual Celebration Week - let's celebrate the gift of our Ritual everyday, starting today - GO! <br /><br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-76811765098621081542012-02-27T18:46:00.005-08:002012-02-27T22:51:37.945-08:00I Love the Pin...The song says "Diamonds are a girls best friend..." to sisters of Alpha Delta Pi, the diamond is more than a piece of jewelry, it's a symbol of our commitment to our sisters throughout time and space. <br /><br />While the first Adelpheans wore blue ribands scripted with "We Live for Each Other" today's Alpha Delts wear the black diamond pin. Some pins are studded with pearls, diamonds, or other precious stones, and some are plain and simple - no matter the additions, they are carry the same value. Two stars and hands clasped in the Adelphean bonds of friendship guard our Greek letters, Alpha Delta Pi. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knM6XSPrACs/T0xLeVgDklI/AAAAAAAAAfA/88pO3l_DbiU/s1600/425268_10151328338650720_820255719_22823400_1721784620_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-knM6XSPrACs/T0xLeVgDklI/AAAAAAAAAfA/88pO3l_DbiU/s400/425268_10151328338650720_820255719_22823400_1721784620_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714025011766071890" /></a><br /><br />This is my badge. Between the pin and our chapter guard are dangles - like an ADPi charm bracelet, these dangles remind us of our experiences, our achievements, and our hard work. During my opportunities to travel to international meetings of Alpha Delta Pi I've loved talking with Pi sisters about their badges and their dangles - what their experience with our sisterhood has been, and what are the memories recorded by the dangles on their badges. <br /><br /><br /><br />As sisters of Alpha Delta Pi we wear our diamond-shaped badge as a symbol and reminder of our values. The diamond has four points and so too, we as sisters have four areas to which we commit our lives to. <br /><br />The Creed of Alpha Delta Pi gives purpose to each point on our badge: <br />"I believe that I must strive to become a well-balanced person by following the dictates of the four points symbolized by our diamond-shaped badge: first, strengthening my own character and personality; second, watching my attitudes toward my fellow-beings; third, recognizing the value of high educational standards; and fourth, developing faith and loyalty." From these words we are given the four points: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Self</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sisterhood</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Scholarship</span>, and <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sorority</span>. <br /><br />When we wear our pin we give call to these promises and commitments for others to see. Our badge has been worn by women across the country who share the values of our 161 year old sisterhood. When we wear our pins we carry all of this with us - all of the history, all of the sisterhood, and all of our promises. When we wear our badge we re-commit ourselves to our sisters and the tie that binds us all together becomes a little bit stronger. <br /><br />As Caralee Strock Standard concluded in our creed - "I BELIEVE that these four guide-posts, guarded by the stars and friendly hands clasped in the Adelphean bonds of fellowship, will lead me to achieve a rich and useful life." <br /><br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-19197357604197112692012-01-19T23:20:00.000-08:002012-01-20T20:30:49.960-08:00Our Potential. Your Move.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Un6c-MY4FEY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><br />Fraternity and Sorority Life is clouded by rumors, and horror stories; by judgements and negative perceptions. Everyday I defend my affiliation, my sisterhood and my community to everyone from peers to professors.<br /><br />Hazing.<br /><br />Drinking.<br /><br />Parties.<br /><br />Sexual Assault.<br /><br />Bullying.<br /><br />Elitism.<br /><br />Yes. These are the images of Fraternity and Sorority Life cast by the news, by the media, and at its worst, by members of chapters.<br /><br />No, this is not me.<br /><br />I am not delusional or ignorant, I understand the horrors that occur within the Greek System, but I also understand what my Ritual means and what my community means. I also understand that I am a better person because of it. Get to know me and take your impression of Greek life from me, from my sisters, from my friends.<br /><br />The Greek system is like religion - violence and conflict are all the result of misinterpretations, of misguided readings and understandings. Lives are lost because leaders of religious communities are in denial of medical practices or institutions that are there to protect us. It can be mean, and hurtful, and oppressive.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">But</span></span>, when it's done right - it's good for the community, it's good for the neighborhood, and the members of the congregation. It has the power to connect and encourage, it brings strength and inspires faith in people. We can be lifted up to the heavens. We learn how to become better people and want to help others do the same.<br /><br /><br />While I am proud to belong to an amazing community I know that we still have the potential to get better, to improve, to live for each other more, to seek the heights together, to aim high together.... I know that we have the potential, but it takes your move. Come get to know us, and let us get to know you! Speak to a Sorority woman today; hear her story, ask her questions. Let's see what can happen!<br /><br />Thanks to NPC for such an amazing and inspiring video!<br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-1781432087211620752012-01-07T22:50:00.001-08:002012-01-17T21:25:49.780-08:00Facilitation: A New Stage of Leadership<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ly4wHLOBT5w/TxZGRhqoKQI/AAAAAAAAAec/5kyLgj5IohE/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ly4wHLOBT5w/TxZGRhqoKQI/AAAAAAAAAec/5kyLgj5IohE/s400/IMG_2347.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698819645392824578" /></a><br /><br />This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to YMCA Camp Tecumseh in Central Indiana to serve as a mentor for the Alpha Beta Session of the NIC program Futures Quest! I arrived on Wednesday and met my fellow mentors at the airport. It seems funny to me now that those first few hours together were spent in relative peace and quiet since only four days later I'd sadly be leaving a group that had become its only crazy little family unit. While my new friends made my time at Futures Quest absolutely amazing, this experience also really opened me up to the next phase of leadership in my life. <br /><br />During one of our first sessions we asked the members of Alpha Beta what it meant to be a leader or what leadership was. One of the brothers said that a leader is someone who allows other to lead. I took that away as being the most true definition. For most of us our opportunity to "come of age" or "set up" is when we develop our leadership skills, when we hone in on the character components we need to someday, be a leader. Our leadership styles and skills are shaped by a series of opportunities which eventually lead to officer roles or committee positions. The ironic part about leadership, is that by the time we are often deemed and recognized as leaders, our leadership style is no longer active. Our role as leaders is to create a path in which others may follow to their own successes. <br /><br />At this year's Quinnipiac Leadership Conference, the keynote speaker said that the best leaders "don't pull, they push." Which brings me back to the point of my Futures Quest brother - a true leader in many ways in fully developed, they know their strengths and have worked to better develop their weaknesses. They know how to encourage, and organize; they know how to lead by example and speak to a group. A true leader can do all of these things, all while knowing they cannot lead forever - that they must allow new leadership to grow and develop and bloom. <br /><br />Leadership in any form is progressive. We meet goals and expectations and then must find ways to move forward. I have been truly blessed with so many leadership opportunities during my time as a collegian but I know I must move forward from the officer-oriented leadership I have become so familiar with. <br /><br />Having the opportunity to facilitate something I truly believe in was a complete blessing. I will be the first to admit, I love validation - who doesn't? - raising your hand and giving an answer to a teacher, coach, or mentor, to have them say "Yes, that's correct" or "Perfect" was something I long considered and sought out. But I have to tell you, as I have gotten older there has been no greater validation than seeing that "lightbulb" moment happen for students and peers I've gotten to work with. WIthout giving anyone any particular answer - seeing the men in my group answer questions and receiving that praise was absolutely amazing! Knowing that these young men were thinking in a new way, and seeing through a lens that I helped to provide and created for them was one of the most fulfilling leadership experiences. <br /><br />There was one instance when one of the brothers in my small group practically read out of the mentor guide - giving specific examples that my partner, Taylor, and I were supposed to touch on. (Shout out to Justin!) He got it! And, nothing could have made me happier! <br /><br />I can not wait for the next opportunity to facilitate these types of conversations, I've already started looking! Facilitation is so incredibly important in our community because we hold such power. Young men and women have the ability to make a huge difference in our local and global communities while at the same time, they can be at risk for making negative choices that affect us all. When leaders are able to affectively facilitate these discussions, our community leadership and emerging leaders can take ownership of the issues we are facing today to propel us forward in a way that being told what to do never allows. <br /><br />I am so grateful and blessed to have gotten to work with such amazing people as I make my own Quest up the leadership summit! <br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-12445714447910751432011-11-11T22:52:00.002-08:002011-12-04T19:34:09.633-08:00This is Sister President, Signing Off....Dear Sisters, <br /><br />Over the last eighteen months I have had the honor and priviledge to serve as Chapter President. I first and foremost have to say thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you and our chapter, thank you for your love, trust, faith and support. Thank you for giving me something that has forever changed my life. I can say with one hundred percent confidence that I would not be the woman I am today without out my sisters, our sisterhood, and this experience. Alpha Delta Pi has given me so much over the past two years - and while this time has been brief, the impact is one I don't know if I'll ever fully be able to explain. <br /><br />Alpha Delta Pi is truly a gift in my life and the experiences and memories I have shared serving the chapter in this capacity are ones that will stay in my heart forever. From my first Jackie hug on big-day to the first grip by former Grand Council President Sister Claire Brown Gwantley, from Leadership Seminar in Atlanta to Grand Convention in Phoenix, and everything in between. While I will admit I have had some trying times during my term, I know that I would not be where I am today without them, I would not be the person I am without them, and our chapter would not be the same without them. <br /><br />As this journey is coming to an end and others - new, exciting and different - are set to begin let me leave you with a few thoughts: <br /><br />Over the summer I attended a leadership institute and one of my facilitators told us that "the walls are not there to keep you out, they are there to keep the other people out. The ones who don't care, the ones who are afraid. When you hit a wall keep going, it's not meant for you, it's meant for them." Sisters, remember that when you hit your walls in life. Excellence cannot be achieved without passion, and with passion comes heartbreak. Because you worry, because you get nervous or upset - all of those things mean that you care. When we stop worrying or thinking or looking or aspiring to change, when we rest or let one another slip through the cracks we are giving up on the promise each and everyone of us commits to during our Ritual. <br /><br />Sisters, always treat one another with the upmost respect, kindness and helpfulness. This will not always be easy. We are human - we have feelings and stressors and jealousies and work. But, remember, we are all students, daughters, sisters, girlfriends, and roommates. We all carry with us a past and a story. While we all have the right to be upset sometimes - if you don't have anything nice to say, or cannot say what you need <span style="font-style:italic;">directly</span> to the sister, then do not say anything at all. <br /><br />This goes for all sisters, including officers. When you think they "don't understand," or an event or project "is stupid" remember that a sister worked hard, and put in their time and effort to complete that task or project. Did you lend your time, skills or talents? If not, it's not your place to give anything but positive support - or help with the next project if you'd like to see improvement. And sister officers, remember that at the times when you feel lost or frustrated. Remember, it's all there for us. Look to our Creed for guidance, look to our sisters for strength and look to our founders for courage. When you do this, you can have no regrets. When you do this, you can know that every decision you've made, you made with the information at hand and with the best possible knowledge. You can have the security of knowing that every step of the way you made the best choice with the options you were given, and that the choice you made, was made with good intentions for our chapter. <br /><br />There will be times at home, in your dorm at school, in classes and throughout the rest of your life where you will be unsure. Uncertainly is something we can be certain of. However, you can also be certain of something else - the tie that binds us together is strong and constant. The same Ritual that ties hundreds of thousands of women through time and space so too ties us all together. Look to our Ritual for answers, and know that they carry so far beyond our time as collegians. Also, know that with that tie, I will always be here for you. I will always be your sister. <br /><br />Thank you to the founding sisters - you are the women who gave me a home away from home; you have changed my life for the better. Thank you to the Leadership Consultants who have shaped my life - you have truly shown me what it has meant to live a life as women of values. Thank you to our advisors and international officers - your constant support and sacrifice has led to our chapter's success, and I personally, would have been lost without you. Thank you to the sisters I have gained over the last two years - you have loved me at my worst and supported me to be the best I can be. <br /><br />I am so blessed to have been a part of this amazing organization and I can not wait to see the amazing accomplishments that are yet to come. <br /><br />Love and Loyally,<br /> Mary,<br /> General Member <br /> Alpha Delta PiMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-6101049427162933072011-11-11T22:51:00.004-08:002011-11-20T20:43:26.299-08:00"Always remember that the future comes one day at a time." ~ Dean Acheson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8NmyNJBeuOc/TsnWqDlv0ZI/AAAAAAAAAeI/3lr0l7JChBs/s1600/303965_10150941764590720_820255719_21434408_179391465_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8NmyNJBeuOc/TsnWqDlv0ZI/AAAAAAAAAeI/3lr0l7JChBs/s400/303965_10150941764590720_820255719_21434408_179391465_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677304823283700114" /></a><br />Me and our newly elected Sister President after chapter! (Maybe one of my fav ADPi pics of all time!) <br /><br /><br />Dean Acheson said "the future comes one day at a time..." while this is true, everything happens just one day at a time, I have to say these past 18 months have felt like they have passed in the blink of an eye. It seems like just yesterday I was handed our C.O.B. and our gavel and sent on the start of a journey that would change my life. <br /><br />This past Sunday we had our chapter elections. I have to be honest - I was scared and nervous and sad - not because I was nervous for my chapter, we had 50 women interview for offices and I could not feel more blessed to have such talented and capable sisters. No, I felt scared and nervous and sad because my time is done. Yes, I will <span style="font-style:italic;">always</span> be a sister of ADPi, I'll always be connected or involved. I'll have new adventures and responsibilities but at the same time, I could not help but feel a little bit of sadness - this amazing journey is coming to a close. And I know, that while this journey is ending another may soon be beginning - I can not help but think of all the wonderful gifts that this opportunities has given me. All of the things I have learned about myself, about others, about our chapter and our sisterhood. <br /><br />That being said, I am so excited for our new officers and chapter leaders. I will never forget our I felt and I have these women never do either! The passion, the worry, the excitement that they feel not is what they will need to remember to carry them through. When things are stressful or hard, or when they're feeling overwhelmed - it is that passion that will remind them why they are doing what they are doing and help them to realize the way they will be successful. <br /><br />Passion alone does not a good officer make, however. Having a successful officer transition workshop, open dialog and providing constant support (as needed of course) - helps make a sister officer the best she can be. Of course, every officer should have the opportunity to make change (that's how we grow), but at the same time - her decisions should never have to be made out of fear or worry. Having an outgoing officer there to lend an ear or a hug or even a place to vent is so valuable. What are ways that we can best help our sisters carry their new responsibilities? Ask lots of questions, work to provide lots of answers, ALWAYS remember the C.O.B. or your officer manual. Share your own missteps with your incoming officer in order to prevent mistakes from being made!! <br /><br />I have to be honest not having been transitioned and never having transitioned anyone before I'm a little scared - do a pull away too much or too soon? Do I hover too close? I want our new Sister President to make mistakes and choices, to make discoveries and try new things. I was given the opportunity to serve without worry about anyone else and while that's not an experience I can re-create it is one I value and will work to ensure that she knows. As we all begin to move forward I have to remember - the future comes one day at a time... officer transition, graduation, even the Golden Lion (2017, Baby!) .... everything will come in time, and each day I'll learn how to let go a little more and she'll learn how to carry a new weight. <br /><br />I am so blessed and honored and I could NOT be more proud of my chapter, it's a good feeling to know that even though I'm a little worried - I have absolutely no reason to be scared! <br /><br />Good Luck, Sisters! Be amazing! <br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-24993182199058733942011-11-11T22:42:00.000-08:002011-11-11T22:50:27.289-08:00To Futures Quest and Beyond!!<a href="http://www.nicindy.org/programs/futures-quest/"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEXyYOe0aPE/Tr4Ww-BNSQI/AAAAAAAAAd0/KU_gFeLKHwc/s1600/Futures-Quest-10-10-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEXyYOe0aPE/Tr4Ww-BNSQI/AAAAAAAAAd0/KU_gFeLKHwc/s400/Futures-Quest-10-10-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673997611070998786" /></a></a><br /><br />So my post about UIFI was <span style="font-style:italic;">incredibly</span> long.... and I still don't feel it truly detailed how amazing the experience was, how much I loved being there or how incredible the people i met where! I'm giving you some warning... I'm anticipating writing a similar post in only a few months! <br /><br />I am so excited to report that I've been chosen as a Futures Quest mentor for the Alpha Beta session this January in Indiana! "What is Futures Quest?" you might ask! <br /><br />WELL....<br /><br />According to the NIC Indy website - The goal of Futures Quest is to help new/er fraternity men discover their priorities and goals for their chapters and to make action plans to accomplishing them: <br />"Futures Quest provides leadership training to men who have joined a fraternity in the last year. The focus of the weekend is identifying personal strength and challenges, developing leadership and communication skills, exploring personal values and strength of conviction, and making a commitment to fraternal ideals. Past participants have left with a plan for their future." <br /><br />I am so excited and feel so blessed to have this experience! I know that attending these types of programs can be more than inspiring and to have the opportunity to serve as a mentor and help these men discover all of the amazing things they are capable of doing - I don't know what could be better! Not to mention I am lucky enough to be serving with one of my friends from my UIFI session! I can't wait!!<br /><br /><3 Love and Loyally <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />p.s. This is kind of a clue for some other BIG events happening in my life!Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-9776423775771836892011-11-11T22:17:00.000-08:002011-11-11T22:41:56.591-08:00Life Moves Fast...<span style="font-weight:bold;">"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it" ~ Ferris Bueller </span><br /><br /><br />I can not believe it is already November. Ferris Bueller's words have never been more true! In a semester that has been filled with exams, applications (I promise I'll come back to this one) and tons of chapter and community activities I have sadly neglected my little area of the blogosphere! While I have been writing down blog-able topics - without even realizing it, the semester has slipped through my fingers! I spent September locked in my room studying for the LSAT exam, and October was spend on applications and surviving mid-terms! <br /><br />I promise to get back on track! This blog has not only been a place to share my thoughts and feelings about our chapter but it has been an amazing way for me to capture my own experiences and given me a place to reflect on my year and a half term as chapter president. It seems like only a few weeks ago I was just settling into the idea of being president - the excitement and the worry and now eighteen months later I am preparing for chapter elections this Sunday! <br /><br />While I am nervous, I am also excited - we are so blessed that every woman slating for a position is amazing, strong, talented and capable! We had fifty...that's right FIFTY... women in our chapter interview for officer positions! I thought I loved and cared for these women before - but after this process I find myself simply amazed by them! <br /><br />There is so much I want to catch up on here but in the mean time.... here is a quick re-cap in photos of what we have done so far this year! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsomuPNMRFg/Tr4SR1tT5OI/AAAAAAAAAcc/AJnX1Ib-HJ0/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsomuPNMRFg/Tr4SR1tT5OI/AAAAAAAAAcc/AJnX1Ib-HJ0/s400/IMG_1827.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673992678217606370" /></a><br /><br />We had our 'Meet the Greeks' BBQ on the Quad at QU! (This might be a fav pic of all time!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXF3HPokzPo/Tr4SSd6xzfI/AAAAAAAAAco/IEHaawoGdQs/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXF3HPokzPo/Tr4SSd6xzfI/AAAAAAAAAco/IEHaawoGdQs/s400/IMG_1934.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673992689011510770" /></a><br /><br />We hosted our 1st ever Pride Olympics - our Prides for the semester were revealed at a "family reunion" party filled with field-day type games (Go Arts, Crafts, Disney Pride!!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vm4XbBt2jzM/Tr4STPt5AlI/AAAAAAAAAc0/7vjPuJj5TBI/s1600/IMG_1990.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vm4XbBt2jzM/Tr4STPt5AlI/AAAAAAAAAc0/7vjPuJj5TBI/s400/IMG_1990.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673992702379229778" /></a><br /><br />We've had sisterhood events like this one - we broke up and did a "speed dating" type of activity - in addition to celebrating our 2nd Anniversary and Alpha Delta Pi Day! We've also had TME's on Resume Building, Healthy Lifestyles, Voting and Ritual! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xC7sFd8XTzg/Tr4ST09ZVXI/AAAAAAAAAdA/Z_oaoW14ozE/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xC7sFd8XTzg/Tr4ST09ZVXI/AAAAAAAAAdA/Z_oaoW14ozE/s400/IMG_2005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673992712376374642" /></a><br /><br />We helped to support the colonization of the newest Alpha Delta Pi chapter at Franklin and Marshall by making and packing 100 courage band bracelets! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-v7gwgpVWA/Tr4SU132GMI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/3-4LPA3JCSw/s1600/IMG_2199.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-v7gwgpVWA/Tr4SU132GMI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/3-4LPA3JCSw/s400/IMG_2199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673992729801398466" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzW2JgprIts/Tr4T3sljTyI/AAAAAAAAAdc/_3fI0Bwc0cc/s1600/319599_10150891831425720_820255719_21123715_384355123_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzW2JgprIts/Tr4T3sljTyI/AAAAAAAAAdc/_3fI0Bwc0cc/s400/319599_10150891831425720_820255719_21123715_384355123_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673994428115799842" /></a><br /><br /><br />We had a week full of competition and fun with 2011 Greek Week - this year it was 90's themed - SO much fun! Isn't our banner amazing?! We won the 'Tag it Up' competition thanks for our amazingly talented sisters! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1aZxcqOEp_o/Tr4UVhx2qSI/AAAAAAAAAdo/74PuCLNF-5Q/s1600/IMG_2261.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1aZxcqOEp_o/Tr4UVhx2qSI/AAAAAAAAAdo/74PuCLNF-5Q/s400/IMG_2261.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673994940610685218" /></a><br /><br />Not to mention our Semi-formal last Friday! (I know this picture seems a little silly but a certain sister of ours is serving as a Recruitment Councilor!! *wink wink*) <br /><br /><br /><br />These are only a few of the things we've done!! So I can assure you my time not blogging has been well spent! I <span style="font-style:italic;">promise</span> to catch up soon! We've got so much to talk about! <br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-80997121514456324862011-08-02T15:05:00.000-07:002011-08-12T15:05:58.179-07:00UIFI: Learn it. Live it. Teach it. Expect it.Two weeks ago I got home from what was by far one of the greatest experiences of my collegiate life. In a week I wish I could replay and repeat a million times, I made friends that even now I know will last a lifetime. In our 5 day-long institute, myself and about 80 other students from across the country and cross-councils were brought together to learn some of the most important lessons of our Greek lives.
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<br />I'm sure other UIFI graduates can attest to this - after about 8 hours in our chapter house, I felt like I had known my fellow attendees my whole life. It was comforting and empowering to be in an environment where I didn't have to explain what NPC was, or how new members were selected during Recruitment. I didn't have to explain my decision to go Greek or the love and passion I feel for me chapter - we all had it, they understood.
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<br />With a solid and common foundation, large and small group discussions quickly became powerful and meaningful. While our letters may have been different, knowing that I was surrounded by men and women who share in and believe in my experience made it easy to open up. With a common thread running through us all - we were free to learn from one another and to make ourselves vulnerable.
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<br />This is my amazing chapter! Chapter 1!!
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<br />UIFI truly is an institute - all of those in attendance, from collegians to facilitators, are all there learning and growing together. Over the five days there is a combination of small group or chapter meetings, large all-group discussions, workshops, and activities. The timing of each of the discussions is very strategic and it is only on the other side that one can realize when the "ah-ha" moments happened - it's now obvious the that each conversation happen when it did. Each day has a purpose and each workshop or chapter session acted as a foundation for the next.
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<br />Each large group discussion would be followed by a chapter meeting - something I saw as truly essential and something that quickly became habit. As the issues grew bigger, the need to decompress, to give and hear feedback became invaluable. Each chapter - a group of about 8 - was lead by two facilitators. My facilitators, Maggie and David, were the perfect guides to our UIFI journey - also leading the way but never quite showing us the exact path to take. From their simple questions grew deep, self-led discussions.
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<br />Maggie and David!! The loves of my UIFI life!
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<br />Our very first task at UIFI was the UIFI Challenge Course. It was a series of mini-games and trust-building exercises, each one with so much more meaning as the week went on. The game the stuck out the most to me required each member of the team to cross from one side of the "pond" to the other. The "pond" was actually a grid drawn with chalk. In the pond there was an invisible path of Lily-pads the group had to follow..... while explaining it properly here would be almost impossible, I'll tell you this: everything I now know about being a Greek leader, it all comes back to that pond, and to those Lilly pads:
<br />1. You never know why someone made the choice they made until you are in their position. Refrain from judgement of actions until you can understand the <span style="font-style:italic;">perspective</span>.
<br />2. Going through the motions of Greek life can be just as big as a mistake as trying all different directions. What is easy, is not always right.
<br />3. From the <span style="font-style:italic;">outside looking in</span>, things always seem easy and care-free, while from the inside looking out things can get confusing and difficult.
<br />4. Sometimes, no matter how scary or difficult, we <span style="font-style:italic;">have to make a decision</span>. Sometimes the choices that lay ahead of us are what is there rather than what we would like.
<br />5. It is okay to make <span style="font-style:italic;">mis-steps</span> but not okay to make <span style="font-style:italic;">mistakes.</span>
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<br />The next few days after that first seemed to go by in a flash - each of us falling into a new routine: kitchen duty, meal times, free time, sing-a-longs and late nights. After two days at Indiana University the Alpha Omicron Pi house seemed like home, and the people who had previously been complete strangers were now members of my Greek family.
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<br />As the days went on the challenges became greater - first, we had to develop a sense of our own leadership style and gage the tactics and tools that we found the most valuable. Second, we were challenged to live the example, to <span style="font-style:italic;">Do What You Say You Will Do</span>. To be the change and to act rightly on it. We also learned that excellence in leadership is not a born trait - it is an acquired skill. It must be harnessed and practiced before it can become instinct. This is when the heavy stuff started to come in - what was the reality of our leadership? The reality of our community? Can Greek life be sustained on the path we currently sit? The next morning our panic from the night before was put to good use - our anxiety given an outlet in action! We <span style="font-style:italic;">took to the streets</span> to volunteer in the Bloomington community.
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<br />That night - a strong feeling of "now what?" sat on all of our shoulders. We had heard and seen and discussed the challenges and detriments of the Greek community. We were scared and nervous. We had all of this energy and yet we had little idea what to do with it. Then, one of the most powerful and empowering experiences took place. Sitting all together in a large group session, attendees were asked to stand and share their creed. Members of the same chapter from across the country stood together to recite the words of their founders, facilitators and their collegiate counter-parts joined voices, proclaiming the power of their affiliation. I was moved in a way that I can not quite describe. I felt truly blessed and still am so grateful to have witnessed the passion and conviction in which the various creeds were recited.
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<br />That was it. After that moment things seemed to click - each chapter member having their own "ah-ha" moments. It wasn't going to be easy to make changes, we all knew that now - it was going to be hard. We were going to have to gather all our courage and all of our strength in order to be the change we wanted to see.
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<br />One of the facilitators, Erin, quote Pete Smithhisler, the President and CEO of the NIC - he once said that "To know Pete Smithhisler, is to know Lambda Chi Alpha." To me, this describes the entire sentiment of UIFI, of what Greek Life should be, and what Greeks as individuals should strive for.
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<br />To know <span style="font-style:italic;">me</span>, is to know <span style="font-style:italic;">Alpha Delta Pi</span>.
<br />If I were to live my Ritual, maybe not being 100% successful 100% of the time, but to try and live my life so that my actions always had a congruence with my sorority's values...what a life that would be? As my facilitator David said - "it's the endless pursuit of excellence." For us, it is the journey that matters and that makes all the difference.
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<br />Yes, I accept that not everyone cares, or agrees. Yes, some members are in it for only four years and not for life. Some say they used to be a member instead of saying that they are. But in front of my chapter and now in front of the world wide web, I made a commitment - to never be one of those people. Yes, I accept that those people are out there but please know: I have learned my Ritual, I am working to live my Ritual, through my actions I hope to teach my Ritual and from my peers I expect them to do the same.
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<br />UIFI was amazing, empowering, and an experience I will never forget.
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<br />There was a lot of learning:
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<br /> a lot of dancing:
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<br />a little bit of identity crisis (POP THAT GAMMA):
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<br /> and a whole lot of memories.
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<br />Now it's just time to put it all to use!
<br />"I am <span style="font-style:italic;">ready</span> to <span style="font-style:italic;">act</span> if I can find <span style="font-style:italic;">brave</span> men and women to help me." ~ Carter G. Woodson, Omega Psi Phi
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<br /><3 Love and Loyally
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<br />Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-47731616338772871532011-06-29T14:46:00.000-07:002011-07-05T14:38:47.067-07:00This is Convention Number 1....Last week I had the honor of sharing in Alpha Delta Pi's 160th Anniversary Grand Convention in Phoenix, Arizona! Not only did I get to experience this amazing celebration of our organization with three of my chapter sisters and our chapter advisor, but I also got to meet and meet-again sisters hundreds of sisters from across the country. <br /><br />While our morning began a little differently than planned - our first flight was cancelled and we were re-routed - I couldn't have asked for better sisters to travel with. Lindsey, Sarah and I had lots of fun as we traveled from cloudy Hartford to sunny Phoenix, arriving just in time to sneak into the opening banquet! <br /><br />Every moment of this trip was not only memorable but magical! I gained a new appreciation for my organization; I truly learned a lot about my chapter, myself and my sisterhood. <br /><br />Day 1: Welcome to Phoenix! <br /><br />After the re-directions, the layovers, and the ummm...unique (?) individuals we met on the airplane, Lindsey, Sarah and I could not have been happier to touch down in Phoenix! After collecting our baggage (six hours later than planned) we were picked up by our chapter sister Miss Meghan. How lucky are we? Not only would we have the pleasure of sharing this experience with sisters from across the country but 4 sisters from our chapter and our amazing advisor Lindsey were all making the trip! Being from Arizona, Meg offered to pick us up at the airport, and we could not have been more excited! <br /><br />While we arrived much later than anticipated, it still managed to be just in time! After checking into the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, we ran to our rooms, changed our clothes and raced to the ballroom where the Opening Banquet was just about to begin! <br /><br />In these first few moments of Convention, I shared one of the most incredible experiences with my sisters. To most, the unvailing of a portriate would be nice, boring even, but to our sisterhood, it was a momentous occasion and one I will never forget! Of our six founders, five had portriates commissioned in their image. Their school-girl selves captured and preserved, shared with all the women who follow in their footsteps. Our sixth founder, Elizabeth Williams Mitchel, was "lost." No photograph had been found, and after many many years of searching, she was finally found! An inpromptu call to the Macon Library, a last attempt, led Executive Office to exactly what they were looking for and so much more! To their delight - when the phone call was made and the story explained, the reply of the woman on the other end of the line: "That's my great grandmother!" The search was over, and not only had Elizabeth been found but so had her family! Her great-great grandaughter was initiated later in the week (another amazing experience, but on that later!). The portrait to hang in Founders Hall was revealed to the Convention Body, as well as Elizabeth's decendants - how beautiful! A beautiful painting and a beautiful moment. I could not help to feel closer to my sisters and founders in that moment - something that would continue all weekend! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fy4Mfw0Jwrc/ThHGA1ICRRI/AAAAAAAAAVw/I-mxpi6YvNE/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fy4Mfw0Jwrc/ThHGA1ICRRI/AAAAAAAAAVw/I-mxpi6YvNE/s400/IMG_1049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625495127125542162" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Day 2: Wave Your Flag<br /><br />The 160th Annaversary Celebration Grand Convention was officially called to session! Another first experience for our young chapter, Theta Theta's flag was presented in the Adelphean processional for the very first time, along with Theta Iota (Bucknell University) and Theta Kappa (Flordia Atlantic). What an honor it was to carry our chapter's flag! While in my head I kept say "slow down, pick up your feet," I couldn't help but notice the view - I could see the entire Convention body - International Officers, alumnae, sisters... All once, in one place, I saw all of these women - the sisters who came before me, the sisters who in every capacity had helped colonize Theta Theta, had trained us, had taught us, and most important believed in us. We're a crazy group of women - we have big ideas and bigger voices and personalities. We're orientation leaders, and SGA members, we start organizations, and lead our campus. These women ahead of me at that moment took all of our personality and helped mold it into something greater than ourselves. I couldn't help but get emotional... (Cough Cough, Mrs. Sherry!) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytPzDR6uM2I/ThHH7VOdlwI/AAAAAAAAAV4/CUKnWLHDXwk/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytPzDR6uM2I/ThHH7VOdlwI/AAAAAAAAAV4/CUKnWLHDXwk/s400/IMG_1070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625497231686473474" /></a><br /><br />After presenting all the chapter flags, the 2011 Grand Convention was officially opened with an address from International President Claire Brown Gwaltney. The address was then followed by our convention photo - all members of the Convention Body in their beautiful white dresses were photographed for the official Convention photo. Seeing this same photo from Convention meetings beginning at the turn of the centuary, I couldn't again, help but feel connect to my sisters and to our history. This photo would represent it's own history and I was a part of it! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9ya3ui2qL4/ThHKUQuRzEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/N7qyNyfAnJ4/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9ya3ui2qL4/ThHKUQuRzEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/N7qyNyfAnJ4/s400/IMG_1075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625499858997726274" /></a><br /><br />Here are our chapter sisters, chapter advisor, and CPD in our own Convention photo! <br /><br />Now that Convention was officially opened, it was time to get to work!!<br /><br />We celebrated the many many accomplishments at the "Your Alpha Delta Pi Foundation" luncheon, learning about the many tools, purposes, and support our foundation provides for us!! We are so lucky to have an internal foundation like ours that supports us as students, individuals and as sisters through education! <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-689-eK4okck/ThHMTGQ6pZI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/SL_PG9T0ChY/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-689-eK4okck/ThHMTGQ6pZI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/SL_PG9T0ChY/s400/IMG_1084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625502038033606034" /></a><br /><br />This quit was made of philanthropy t-shirts of chapters across the country - notice that bright Jail N' Bail orange?! The quilt was then raffled off to raise funds for the foundation - Charles, the official ADPi photographer who had been to 15 Conventions bid $1,500 for it - only to donate it back so it could be re-auctioned! Oh, Charles! <br /><br />The business meetings and District Caucuses took up most of our day. While at some times revising our bylaws became tedious, it was exciting to be able to vote and see parlimentory procedure in action. While some changes were gramatical, other changes or proposed resolutions would have a great impact on our organization.<br /><br />After a busy day we were off to the Diamond 4-Point Dinner! As this was our first Grand Convention and we were colonized in 2009, we were eligible for awards! Diamond 4-Point is the first award on our tiered system and must be won in order to progress on to the next tier. D4P measures conpidence in general chapter organization and administrative business.<br /><br />It was that time, announcing the winners of the Diamond 4-Point - I have to be honest, I was so nervous! While it takes an entire chapter, committees, officers and advisors to win this award, if we didn't win, I would have felt responsible - was I not paying attention? What if I forgot something? Chapter after chapter was called and still no Theta Theta..... Then, wanting to add a dramatic affect, they paused to especially recognize a few chapters - the first two were chapters that had not won D4P in a long time, but with hard work from chapter sisters and advisors, the chapters were not getting set on a great track! "Oh no, I thought, we didn't win!" We were a young chapter, we didn't fit into this category.....then all of a sudden: "THETA THETA!" We heard it! We did it! In our first year eligible we did what we had set out to do! See ya in 2017 Golden Lion!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kchAmV6wwCQ/ThHPn6MZmGI/AAAAAAAAAWo/HlUGwYhFDTA/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kchAmV6wwCQ/ThHPn6MZmGI/AAAAAAAAAWo/HlUGwYhFDTA/s400/IMG_1112.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625505694105573474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BlIVVfyNjqc/ThHPnfTenII/AAAAAAAAAWg/bfyyk1t_9iI/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BlIVVfyNjqc/ThHPnfTenII/AAAAAAAAAWg/bfyyk1t_9iI/s400/IMG_1110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625505686887505026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXGfV1T_dAo/ThHPnM638sI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Vd_qnBSLyOI/s1600/IMG_1108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXGfV1T_dAo/ThHPnM638sI/AAAAAAAAAWY/Vd_qnBSLyOI/s400/IMG_1108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625505681952469698" /></a><br /><br />Day 3: The Vote Goes On and On and On...<br /><br />Friday was spent in our second business meeting. We finished voting on bylaw revisions, proposed resolutions and then for our new Grand Council!! <br /><br />International President - Tammie S. Pinkston, Zeta Nu / Gamma Phi<br /><br />International Vice President of Collegiate Membership - Susan Swicord Mathews, Epsilon Pi <br /><br />International Vice President of Collegiate Membership - Stacy DeMartini Bruton, Delta Sigma<br /><br />International Vice President of Alumnae Membership - Renee Bailey Iacona, Delta Upsilon <br /><br />International Secretary - Sydnee Jack, Alpha Omicron<br /><br />International Vice President of Finance - Emily Erkel, Zeta Chi<br /><br />International Vice President of Organizational Relations - Sandy McDonald Davis, Xi<br /><br />Executive Director - Linda Welch Ablard, Alpha Omicron<br /><br />It was absolutely amazing to see the process and incredibly amazing to actually be able to vote for the next leaders of our International Organization! We were also so blessed as a chapter to have so many options, so many women who were capable and willing to serve in such capasities! <br /><br />That night, we celebrated our alumnae with the "Diamond are Forever - Bring Your Bling" dinner... Sisters dressed up in tiaras, jewels and all things lions, and diamonds! In addition to alumnae awards, we celebrated with another time-honored ADPi tradition, the Convention song! <br /><br />All members of the Convention Body stand up to begin...<br /><br />"This is Convention Number 1, Number 1, Number 1, <br />This is Convention Number 1, Have you been to 2?" <br /><br />All the sisters who had only been to one convention had to sit down...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDidn3Jf_d0/ThHVOpuo-cI/AAAAAAAAAXA/rbnka2hn0kg/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDidn3Jf_d0/ThHVOpuo-cI/AAAAAAAAAXA/rbnka2hn0kg/s400/IMG_1126.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625511857258822082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MJWygJiQiBo/ThHVOWoackI/AAAAAAAAAW4/0zSOmqv1eaY/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MJWygJiQiBo/ThHVOWoackI/AAAAAAAAAW4/0zSOmqv1eaY/s400/IMG_1125.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625511852132430402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQYY1ot8-Js/ThHVOKXB20I/AAAAAAAAAWw/t58Ih7TCL0s/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQYY1ot8-Js/ThHVOKXB20I/AAAAAAAAAWw/t58Ih7TCL0s/s400/IMG_1122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625511848838290242" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sung to the tune of 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' we went through 27 VERSES of this song... with one of our sisters had been to 27 Convention Meetings - non-concecutively, her very first being in 1941!! <br /><br />How amazing it was to see all these women celebrate many many years of service and sisterhood! <br /><br /><br />Day 4: Diamonds in the Dessert <br /><br />The morning of our last full day began within an alumnae initiation and a Ritual Review workshop... it was amazing and beautiful to sit and see and really take in our Ritual. We're usually a part of it, and being able to see it in a calm and relaxing setting really helped me notices pieces I had not before - both as an Alpha and Delta sister. <br /><br />After our ritual review we were fortunate to have Christ Blackburn from Campuspeak give us a Keynote entitled: "Response Ability," which was all about bystandard behavior and the different attitudes that contribute it.... it was funny to see every sister in the room "Ohhh" and "Ahh" in agreement as we talked about the different challenges we face in our chapters. <br /><br />That afternoon we celebrated one of my favorite facets of our sisterhood - Panhellenic!! At our Panhellenic Luncheon, chapter flags from all the NPC groups are presented. We were also fortunate to have the President of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, Peter Smithhisler, speak to us. <br /><br />Later that afternoon we attended two different educational sessions - I attended Trust, a workshop about self-trust, development, and developing behaviors that contribute to trust and Healthy vs. Hurting Leadership, a workshop about recognizing difficulties and difficult situations within our chapters on all different scales. Both workshops were incredible and I learned a lot. <br /><br />My Convention experience ended with the final banquet - "Celebrating Diamonds of Excellence." At the final formal dinner the new Grand Council is installed, Alpha Delta Pi's highest awards are given out, toasts are made, and the official roll called. After the banquet, the entire Convention Body went outside and sang traditional ADPi songs. It absolutely felt like a dream, and was truly an experience I will never forget. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMIRic4A6TQ/ThN-ZBNNXFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/JRLWVo-agu0/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMIRic4A6TQ/ThN-ZBNNXFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/JRLWVo-agu0/s400/IMG_1162.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625979327801547858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv07Ag6fMsw/ThN-Y2k3jPI/AAAAAAAAAXY/vsa3ohFP7O4/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv07Ag6fMsw/ThN-Y2k3jPI/AAAAAAAAAXY/vsa3ohFP7O4/s400/IMG_1171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625979324947991794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws-ep6kFXfs/ThN-YeNysxI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/1w7fGgzRk20/s1600/IMG_1168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ws-ep6kFXfs/ThN-YeNysxI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/1w7fGgzRk20/s400/IMG_1168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625979318408753938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FL5ReRdshis/ThN-YP-eo-I/AAAAAAAAAXI/OlMLU6EV1W4/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FL5ReRdshis/ThN-YP-eo-I/AAAAAAAAAXI/OlMLU6EV1W4/s400/IMG_1151.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625979314586428386" /></a><br /><br /><br />In addition to the actually experience of attending Grand Convention and lessons learned in education sessions here are some of things I will take away, maybe the most valuable of all: Alpha Delta Pi is there, always, connecting me to sisters through time and space, throughout history and across the country. My ideals and values give me way to a family of individuals that no matter what, will be there. In doing some self-reflection I realized that things - school, friends, chapter business, etc. - can be difficult; it can be hard, and scary and confusing. When all is said and done, this is where we should all come back to, the most basic principles the most basic notion and the basis for our membership. Our chapter's Ritual gives us important lessons, ones that should never be forgotten, ones that can make these difficult things seem a lot easier. I learned that my advisors may grow to be some of the best friends I'll ever have, and they're women to admire and look up to. I'll always have support, I'll always have sisters, after all - 'we live for each other.' <br /><br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-57573146814880364052011-05-26T14:09:00.000-07:002012-01-25T19:00:27.389-08:00Whatchamacallit.... Greek Jargon EditionGreek life has it's own jargon, from sororities to fraternities, chapter to chapter and council to council the language to describe things are different but to un-Greek ears, most of them have no idea what we're talking about!! How are we supposed to prove to the world how awesome we are if they can't understand what we're saying...(am I right? am I right?)! <br /><br />Language is a very very powerful thing - using one select term over another can inspire us, make us feel happy and or excited, make us feel loved or appreciated - words can also be hurtful. They can demean us, they can make us feel bad about ourselves or others... (think sticks and stones...). Greek jargon is just as powerful. In a community where outside perceptions are not always the best it's especially important that we be mindful of our language....and I'm not talkin' minding our p's and q's (although both are very important!!). <br /><br />Here are some language DO's and DON'T's: <br /><br /><br />1. Do: New Member or Potential New Member - these two phrases give PNM's or New Members (Alpha Sisters wooo woot!) the respect that they deserve. They ensure a sense of safety in just our language - there will be no proving yourself or demeaning treatment, you are a new friend or sister or sisterfrand.... whatever you want to call it. <br /><br /> Don't: Pledge - Calling a person a "pledge" infers that they are "pledging," this above all else is one of the most negative notions of fraternity and sorority life. If you want non-Greeks (and many Greeks, I might add) to believe that you are not treating new members with the upmost respect this word is a big cue. Even if you are treating your new members in the best possible way - pledge carries with it a very strong and very negative connotation so why not avoid it?! <br /><br />side note: Same goes for New Member Period, Alpha Period, etc... are Pledge Period, Rush....<br /><br />2. Do: NPC Groups participate in <span style="font-style:italic;">Formal Recruitment</span><br /><br /> Don't: Sisters are not found in RUSH - small different but it gives a blanketed idea to what is actually a very precise and mutual process. While this phrase is still used by many universities to describe the time, it just shows that the campus Panhellenic group needs some reorganizing. <br /><br />3. Do: Familiarize yourself with Greek terminology including council names, <br /><br />National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)<br />National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) <br />National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association (NAPA)<br />National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations(NALFO)<br />National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC). <br />North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) <br /><br /><br /> Don't: Call NPHC groups "the black ones" or refer to NAPA orgs as "the asian ones," having an understanding of the history and development of these councils and their purpose will not only change your own Greek experience for the better - no matter what group you are a member of, but will also give you a new understanding of these groups and their roles in every community....plus it makes you seem plain old stupid. <br /><br /><br />4. Do: Get to know and properly reference the <a href="http://www.npcwomen.org/">Green Book/</a><a href="http://www.nicindy.org/about/">NIC Resolutions</a> and your chapter's and any governing council's officers.<br /><br /> Don't: Count on others to learn these important things for you, if "traditions" inhibit your chapter from moving forward or the way you've always done things isn't working anymore...you might be doing it wrong and chapter officers may not know! <br /><br /><br />5. Do: Call the sisters of your chapter "Sisters" when trying to get their attention<br /><br /> Don't: Yell out "Girls" when trying to quiet the room - this is a personal one, but to me it just as such an "us" and "them" connotation to it when you're yelling at people. As a speaking officer or sister you're simply that, a speaking officer or sister...(but this could totally be just me!)<br /><br /><br />Language has a huge impact on the way people react to different situations. When we use the proper language, we'll get well...a proper response. Giving respect to other through language is more often than not given respect in return! Not to mention, calling things by their proper names makes us sound much more professional! (You fancy, HuH?!) <br /><br /><br /><3 Love and Loyally,Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-40762443696082892792011-05-24T18:04:00.000-07:002011-05-24T18:28:05.831-07:00I (heart) Greek Life ... Really I do.I love Greek Life. I really, really do... I love my chapter, my international organization; I love Panhellenic (ask my Panhellenic sisters how I feel about our Wednesday night meetings!!) and I love being a member of the Greek Community. <br /><br />Today at work someone was asking me about school - "Yes, I'm only home for the summer..." it was a completely normal conversation, and one that I have almost daily the first couple weeks back. "How was your year? ..." anyone with a summer job knows the exact conversation I'm talking about - you have it with friends and older co-workers summer after summer. <br /><br />In addition to the "what classes did you take?" type questions, we started talking about my boyfriend and where he goes to school - "that's so far away" - this is the response I'm used to hearing, so the response I'm used to giving is: "It's okay though because we're both so busy, he plays sports and I'm president of my sorority so we are both always up to something." <br /><br />To me, staking my claim as a member of a sorority is a perfectly respectable account of a busy schedule: philanthropy events, meetings, chapter, the list goes on and on.... and yet today - this person's negative Greek experiences had rained all over my usual "I <3 Greek Life" attitude. <br /><br />By busy schedule they thought I was referring to my partying and drinking.....<br /><br />Sometimes I get so frustrated! I know that our Greek community at the Q is very different than most, but my experience has been a wonderful one and has truly shaped my life. Sometimes I can't decide what is worse - the stereotypes about Greek life or the activities and events Greeks participate in to make those stereotypes true. <br /><br />I consider myself one of the biggest advocates for the Greek system - the Greek leadership model is something truly incredible! But, at the same time that I'm defending my affiliation to the world's end, I'm also one of the biggest critics. I love my Ritual and I am so proud to be a part of it, when Greeks don't live their lives (and that means all the time.... character is what you do when no one is looking!!), by their Rituals, they further perpetuate the bad and all too easily detriment the good! <br /><br />I feel like most Greeks spend so much time defending themselves and not enough time acting in ways to make outsiders change their minds - there is also always talk about why our behavior should be different or better or one way over another. The answer is simple....Greek Life, I love you but I have to say: <br /><br />We took an oath that others didn't. We made promises that other college students did not make, and we did it all by choice. It was our choice to be a part of these social organizations, to strive for social excellence, and when we don't we make a lie out of our Ritual. <br /><br />Learn it. Live it. Love it. <br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-44726278299363652612011-05-02T17:38:00.000-07:002011-05-02T18:00:49.189-07:00LTR: Summer Edition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPsYKj_OQEA/Tb9TncKl3fI/AAAAAAAAAVk/rV-FF0Bi3bg/s1600/Diamonds%2BBeach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yPsYKj_OQEA/Tb9TncKl3fI/AAAAAAAAAVk/rV-FF0Bi3bg/s400/Diamonds%2BBeach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602288398512807410" /></a><br /><br />So it's not summer, not for me, not just yet....but after having our last chapter meeting of the year last night, summer is on my mind (okay, and maybe a little in my day dreams)!! <br /><br />With our last week of classes and final exams making their way into our agendas it's time to get ready for summer! New bathing suits, trips to the beach, summer jobs....in addition to all the fun that comes with the summer months, spending time with our friends and families, how do we remember our R/ritual and sisterhood while we're separated from one another? <br /><br />With sisters living across the country, it's hard to ensure that all our members our staying engaged over the summer. Some of the friendships with new Delta sisters and older Delta sisters were just starting to develop and now we have to separate?! <br /><br />Here are some of the things that we've done in our chapter to keep everyone connected even while we're physically apart from one another!! <br /><br />Facebook Groups ~ every academic class (Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen) have a facebook group. Sisters can post events, keep in touch and even post videos! It's a quick and easy check in that brings everyone closer together. <br /><br />Chapter Calendar ~ getting our chapter calendar out to sisters as soon as possible will help sisters not only prepare, but get excited for the upcoming school year! By making sure new events and activities are in view, sisters won't forget everything we've done together this past year<br /><br />Diamond Sister Notebooks ~ Instead of making diamond boards during our Diamond Days celebrations, our Membership Education Team came up with this cute idea! Diamond Sisters decorated a notebook to mail back and forth to one another, some sisters use it at school, passing it back and forth each week at chapter when schedules get too busy for regular lunch dates. <br /><br />Summer Trips ~ with our chapter log, sisters can see who lives in their area! We have plans to go to amusement parks, the beach, sporting events and other great summer classics! By connecting with women who live in our area, it's yet another way to yet us get to know sisters!! <br /><br />What do your chapters do to keep the spark of sisterhood going over the summer months?? <br /><br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-86744206944523742852011-04-26T09:54:00.000-07:002011-04-26T10:14:42.348-07:00Ode to Chapter Operations: C.O.B., I Love YouDear C.O.B., <br /><br />Thank you! <br /><br />Thank you for always being there for me when I've needed you - the binder in my dorm room, on the go on Pride Online (Manuals by Section of course!!). Whenever I have had a question over the last year, in addition to my sisters and advisors, you have been there all-knowing! Just when I think something is unique to our chapter, or that we're in an unknown situation - there you are with not just a page but an entire section dedicating to solving the crisis, fixing the situation, implementing the plan or building the chapter! <br /><br />Thank you for the timelines, the transitions and laying down the law! <br /><br />Love and Loyally,<br />Mary <br /><br /><br />Since I was elected in a special election at the end of the school year last year, I have a particular love for the C.O.B. Sisters in my chapter usually tease me since I've been known to give answers that include "In section _____ of the C.O.B., it says ______" <br />and although they might laugh, I know that when I can reference the C.O.B. on a subject, it's being done the way it's supposed to with no digression from its purpose or our values. <br /><br />It's not just the C.O.B. I love, I love all of our officer manuals! They have answered so many of my questions and the questions of other women in the chapter, officers and members-at-large a like! <br /><br />So I propose these few steps to make your life a little easier!! <br /><br />1. If you are an officer read your manual. The WHOLE thing. Cover to cover. You will not absorb everything but you will become familiar with the manual and at least be able to recall things that you might have to go back to, to reference later. <br /><br />2. Check the manual first! 9 times out of 10, I am asked a question and when I open the C.O.B. or the officer manual the answer is not only there but it is there bolded with a specific answer and its own section or chapter. <br /><br />3. Manuals are our greatest resources! They are gifts from our Executive Offices or International Headquarters for us to use - they were all collegians once, and they know what they're talking about! Consider the C.O.B. the best advise we could ever get from CBG!! <br /><br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-83305074092209142662011-04-19T16:06:00.001-07:002011-04-19T16:31:28.484-07:00A Little Bit Of This and A Little Bit Of ThatThese past few weeks, thinking about my role as President and a sister (at this point I apologize for my last two post being almost the same...'goals' are kind of on my mind!!) and I was brain storming new ideas and approaches that we could try and utilize in our chapter. What can we do to grow? How do we reach all of our members? Why don't we get perfect attendance at all of our events? <br /><br />The answer to my questions came in the form of T.J. Sullivan - I heard T.J. speak at our leadership conference this year and I have been completely obsessed with him ever since. I read his blog <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hungry Student Leader</span> almost everyday. In today's hunt, I found this article:<a href="http://tjsullivan.com/please-all-the-people-some-of-the-time/"> Please All The People Some of The Time</a><br /><br />This article....as many of T.J.'s entries do...hit me like a ton of bricks. A "duh" moment. Not everyone shows up to everything because no everyone likes everything. <br /><br />As leaders in our chapter we're prepared for people t get mad at us, to get angry, to "hate" us or come to us with problems. Every discouraged leader has heard "you can't make everybody happy" millions of times, or "If you can't feel the heat, you're not cooking" but there's no standard or obvious plans to host and develop effective programming! Yes, our Chapter Operations Book or your officer manuals give you guidelines for events, for chapter meetings, for chapter education sessions but no one has the key or a secret guide to being successful in executing chapter plans or socials or sisterhood events - PR needs and tools are different on every campus, the culture is different on every campus.... <br /><br />The key to T.J.'s article is that different activities need to be held throughout the year the appeal to the different tastes, availability and interests of our members. Movie nights may be the perfect first for some of our sisters but the others want to play sports. Some sisters aren't competitive are don't want sports - they want to take trips and get off campus!! So maybe all 185 sisters don't come to every single event but if every single sister goes to one of our many events then we should consider ourselves successful!! <br /><br />This past Sunday at our chapter meeting we did some strategic planning....in other words we talked about the things we don't like and how to change them. We discussed our expectations and our ideas. IT WAS AWESOME! My sisters had some amazing ideas that might not have appealed to everyone, but had some more excited than I'd ever seen! <br /><br />When making the chapter calendar remember that while we share the same values and that we all wear the same letters our interests, hobbies, and skill sets are all different. Our similarities make us Alpha Delta Pis, our differences make our chapter unique! <br /><br />Love and Loyally <3Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-37905153825024453632011-04-14T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-14T07:28:51.943-07:00And...What Do You Have To Show For Yourself?It's been almost one year since I was elected President. I can hardly believe it. I'm more than half-way done, where did this year go?! Coming into office i had so many goals and ideas about what our chapter could do and what we could accomplish! With a little more than 6 months left, I have a few more things on my to-do list! <br /><br />I want to post them now so that next Fall when I pass the torch - or gavel - I can say "here's what I did, now it's up to you to make it better." That's the objective right? That we each - every member, officer, sister - bring something different to our chapters. We have different talents, skills, interests, and ideas. If we each leave a little something behind with our chapters, the next generation will take that and make it a little better, a little more effective. When they leave the next, after them, will do the same.<br /><br />I'm not saying we can never be satisfied or that we are not successful, but I am saying that we should rest on our laurels, that we shouldn't get tired or even lazy. We shouldn't ever do things because that's how they were done, or "that's how we've always done them." Something might work for the chapter for a few years but as the chapter culture or "personality" so to speak, changes, so much our mays of doing things. <br /><br />Here are my goals for the next 6 months: <br /><br />1. Work on ways to develop leadership within our chapter ~ host a "Leadership Workshop" within our chapter for sisters interested in running for an office, utilize committee or event chairs for everything!! Any sister who is interested in a leadership role should be given the opportunity to do so! <br /><br />2. Improve communication! The GIN system is great for our chapter but can be used more, the question boards, discussion boards, the ability for sisters to post things on the "wall" we need to use this better, but how? Update our facebook page and chapter website for potential members and parents. Hold event meetings so all the different officers working together can talk face-to-face. <br /><br />3. More philanthropy events, fundraisers by class! <br /><br />4. Greater participation!! I feel like sometimes our chapter does things because they have to, this is the thing that upsets me most, and sometimes something feels like it's missing. We need new means of motivation, new experiences that bring us together, new activities that are fun but structured enough that we can use them as a means of discussion or bonding. <br /><br />5. More opportunities to get to know different sisters - Bible study, book exchanges, study groups, family dinners! <br /><br /><br />Here they are just a few more things on my to-do list! Any ideas? Any experiences? Throw them my way! I know how lucky our chapter is to have the amazing women we do, I want to make sure they're getting the experience that they expected and hoped for! I believe in my sorority, I believe in Greek life. What do you want out of your membership?! Let's make it happen!<br /><br />Ready? GO!! <br /><br />Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-11006394495219547672011-03-31T07:23:00.000-07:002011-03-31T09:09:57.366-07:00Who Needs 'New Years' to Make Resolutions!Who needs New Years to make goals and positive changes? We don't need a date or a time to start! "Goals are dreams with deadlines..." so while we don't need to have a start time, we need to set deadlines! <br /><br />As the year is starting to wind down, I think this is the perfect opportunity to begin planing for next year - to learn from the past year's events and to start setting the tone for next year so we can hit the ground running! <br /><br />Here are my personal goals for my office and our chapter! I hope you take the time to make some of your own - feel free to share!! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Improve Communication</span><br />- filter questions to the proper VP/officers<br />- utilize GIN message boards to share information<br />- take complete minutes and make sure they're posted promptly for all team/committee meetings<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Create Positive Environment at all ADPi Events</span><br />- Create new positive recognition tools <br />- Make sure to recognize sisters for their hard work and skills they share <br />- leave our troubles at the door<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Create Effective Systems</span><br />- Sub-committees for all committees<br />- Event chairs for all events<br />- Evaluate all events for future improvement<br />- Delegate as much as possible to develop leadership in others<br />- Make organization a habit<br />- Hold a productive Fall officer retreat <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Have Fun!</span><br />- Collect/share/build new programs that meet sisters interests<br />- RELAX<br />- reflect and create opportunities for reflection <br /><br />What goals do you want to achieve? How can you be a leader in your chapter in office and out? How can we stay "in the moment" while preparing for an even brighter future? <br /><br /><3 Love and LoyallyMarynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-1748067103298443922011-03-22T06:50:00.000-07:002011-03-22T07:02:00.157-07:00Alpha Delta Pi FoundationAs sisters of Alpha Delta Pi we are so incredibly blessed! While most men's and women's chapters have means and provide scholarships, not all chapters have the amazing opportunities and access that we do. The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation provides academic scholarships and emergency grants to sisters in need but their efforts do not end there! The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation works to create educational programs including the Adelphean Compass, I was able to experience the Adelphean Compass this summer at Leadership Seminar, and other educational programs. They use the funds to develop and support new programming, create total membership development opportunities and to support outside programming and NPC/IFC events like UIFI. <br /><br />The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation amazing and supports Alpha Delta Pi collegians and alumnae from around the world....check our their amazing video below! <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-XbO4lo1hG0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />Love and Loyally <3Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-11741448194534891752011-03-08T06:51:00.000-08:002011-03-08T07:13:21.457-08:00Happy International Badge Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qEQenJi_Dhk/TXZEQrqKl4I/AAAAAAAAAVc/b9F-2R2ohaQ/s1600/pin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 190px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qEQenJi_Dhk/TXZEQrqKl4I/AAAAAAAAAVc/b9F-2R2ohaQ/s400/pin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581723841560483714" /></a><br /><br />Happy International Badge Day! <br /><br />Monday, March 7th, 2011 celebrates the 15th International Badge Day! <br /><br /><br />International Badge Day was first celebrated in 1997 after being created by the National Panhellenic Conference. The idea was inspired by an article by a sisters of Alpha Sigma Alpha, wrote an article entitled "A Simple Solution - Wear Your Memberhsip Badge Today." In this article, Nora M. Ten Broeck told of her experience of wearing her badge to work. <br /><br />Pins or badges are a common Greek experience, so while this day was first started and celebrated by NPC groups, since 1997 the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc., the National Multicultural Greek Council, the National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Inc. have all been invited to participate. This is a tie that binds men and women of a common cultural. Just as our Rituals might all be different, our rituals are all the same. Just as our pins are different shapes and have different symbols and different meanings, their function is also all the same. <br /><br />As a sister of Alpha Delta Pi, our diamond shaped badge, <a href="http://mylittleadpi.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-than-ritual-more-than-symbol-it-is.html">as our creed states</a> is a reminder of the four guide posts of our founding and act as a reminder of our purpose. When we see sisters from around the world wearing their pin, we know that we share a common initiation experience and were recruited under the same values and guidelines. <br /><br />Our pin is a proud display of our affiliation and inspires others around us to ask questions. It invokes a sense of pride and encourages us to represent our organizations in the best way possible. While we wear "pin/badge attire" when we wear our pins in public, the idea behind them is that mentally, we never take them off. Even when no one is looking we should not stop living our Ritual, we should never abandon our values. <br /><br />This year's theme: "Keep Your Fraternal Experience Close To Your Heart" <br /><br />Happy International Badge Day!!Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3390789387522838190.post-2397353453055086822011-03-03T08:03:00.000-08:002011-03-03T08:41:20.526-08:00Happy National Ritual Celebration Week 2011!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mGmnSe_1SMY/TW_EqASkOeI/AAAAAAAAAVU/isv2J5tnyG0/s1600/RitualWeek_logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mGmnSe_1SMY/TW_EqASkOeI/AAAAAAAAAVU/isv2J5tnyG0/s400/RitualWeek_logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579894689246755298" /></a><br />Happy Ritual Celebration Week everyone! <br /><br />Phi Mu Fraternity, founded at *Wesleyan Female College* in 1852, created National Ritual Celebration Week in December 2010! According to the Alpha Delta Pi website this week was created:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"For members to reflect on why our organization was founded, why fraternities/sororities have rituals, what it means to live by one’s ritual and what being a member of an organization with a ritual means to them personally."</span><br /><br />I love talking about what we call Big "R"/Little "r," trust me, ask any of my chapter sisters... <br /><br />This is something that was passed onto me at a leadership conference last fall. The idea of R/ritual is what this week is really all about. This week of celebration is about the reflection and infusion of the message of our chapter Rituals into our everyday life, and everyday rituals. <br /><br />According to the Webster dictionary: <br />ritual |ˈri ch oōəl| noun<br />• a prescribed order of performing such a ceremony, esp. one characteristic of a particular religion or church.<br />• a series of actions or type of behavior regularly and invariably followed by someone : her visits to Joy became a ritual.<br /><br />I love the definition above - the first applies directly to our chapter's <span style="font-style:italic;">Rituals</span>. These ceremonies have been repeated for almost 160 years, they connect us to women across time and space. We share this ceremony with women from around the world, and with generations of women. The second, applies to our <span style="font-style:italic;">rituals</span>. These are the things we do everyday: we wake up, brush our teeth, wash our face, drink a cup of coffee... The idea is of "Living our Ritual" is that we should bring all of the values that we share and cherish in chapter and initiation into our everyday lives. Honesty, forgiveness, respect, appreciation. How can we be more honest with sisters and friends? How can we be more respectful to classmates and our families? How can we learn to forgive and communicate more effectively with each other? <br /><br />Our <span style="font-style:italic;">Ritual</span> teaches us how to live our lives, how to make our <span style="font-style:italic;">rituals</span> ones that would be reflective of our founders intentions. Are Ritual teaches us how to make our us better people. <br /><br />For more information about National Ritual Celebration Week or more ideas for how to celebrate you can visit <a href="http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek">Phi Mu Fraternity's website!<br /></a>Marynoreply@blogger.com0